Modular laser therapeutic device

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular Modular Laser Therapy Device (MLTD) to be used by ophthalmologists for eye surgery that integrates three most frequently used therapeutic devices into a single, compact unit enabling the treatment with capsulotomy, vitreolysis and iridotomy, with selective laser trabeculoplasty and with photocoagulation. While providing such modular laser device a method is provided for optomechanically coupling different ophthalmic modules into the single unit using two laser sources.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An ophthalmic laser system comprising:
 a first laser module operable to produce a first beam at a first wavelength;   a second laser module operable to produce a second beam at a second wavelength;   a first beam path incorporating an exit objective module, the first beam path directing the first beam to an eye of a patient;   a second beam path incorporating a frequency modifying component and the exit objective module, wherein the frequency modifying component converts the first beam or the second beam to a third beam at a third wavelength, the second beam path directing the third beam to the eye of the patient; and   a third beam path incorporating the exit objective module, the third beam path directing the second beam to the eye of the patient,   
       wherein both the first laser module and the second laser module are for treatment of the eye of the patient. 
     
     
         18 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , wherein the first beam path, the second beam path, and the third beam path are configured for treatment of the eye of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first beam path, and/or the second beam path, and/or the third beam path, further incorporates beam shaping optics. 
     
     
         20 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , wherein the third wavelength is nominally one-half the first wavelength. 
     
     
         21 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , wherein one laser module comprises a laser of a first type, and the other laser module comprises a laser of a second type different from the first type. 
     
     
         22 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 21 , wherein the laser of the first type comprises a pulsed laser source and/or the laser of the second type comprises a continuous wave laser source. 
     
     
         23 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first laser module comprises a pulsed Nd-YAG laser, the first wavelength being nominally 1064 nm and suitable for secondary cataract treatment, the first wavelength when converted to the third wavelength being nominally 532 nm and suitable for glaucoma treatment; and/or   the second laser module comprises a continuous wave laser or a laser diode, the second wavelength being from 440 nm to 650 nm, nominally 532 nm, which is suitable for treatment with photocoagulation.   
     
     
         24 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the first beam path and/or the second beam path further incorporate a safety module for blocking off the first beam path and/or the second beam path whenever the safety module detects an unsafe condition; and/or   the third beam path incorporates a safety module integrated within the second laser module, for blocking off the third beam path whenever an internal power meter of the second laser module detects an unsafe condition.   
     
     
         25 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , wherein the second beam path and/or the third beam path further incorporate a scanning module comprising a plurality of prisms and/or one or more mirrors. 
     
     
         26 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , comprising:
 adaptable optomechanical coupling for at least part of all components and modules; and   electromechanical control, electronic control, and/or microprocessor control for selectively operating for and amongst the first beam path, the second beam path, or the third beam path.   
     
     
         27 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 one of the laser modules is movably mounted; and/or   one of the laser modules is provided with a fiber coupling for selectively operating for and amongst the first beam path, the second beam path, or the third beam path.   
     
     
         28 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 27 , wherein the first laser module is movably mounted and/or the second laser module is provided with the fiber coupling. 
     
     
         29 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 components and modules for operating the first beam path are mounted on a first platform including the first laser module; and   components and modules for operating the second beam path are mounted on a second platform,   
       wherein at least one of the first platform and/or the second platform is movably mounted for selectively operating, by means of linear and/or rotational movement of the at least one platform, either (a) components and modules including the first laser module or the first platform for operating the first beam path, or (b) components and modules of the second platform for operating the second beam path. 
     
     
         30 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 29 , wherein:
 components and modules for operating the third beam path are mounted on the second platform, and   the second laser module comprises a fiber coupling for selectively operating the third beam path.   
     
     
         31 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 29 , wherein linear and rotational movements of the at least one movably mounted platform can be performed. 
     
     
         32 . The ophthalmic laser system of  claim 29 , further comprising extra cavity deflecting means for selectively deflecting the third beam toward beam shaping optics of the second beam path. 
     
     
         33 . A method for use of the ophthalmic laser system of  claim 17 , the method comprising:
 selectively switching the ophthalmic laser system among three different therapeutic modes of operation depending on a required ophthalmic laser treatment, the three different therapeutic modes of operation comprising:
 (i) a photodisruptor mode wherein the first beam path is operable using the first laser module at the first wavelength; 
 (ii) a selective laser trabeculoplasty mode wherein the second beam path is operable using the first laser module at the third wavelength; and 
 (iii) a photocoagulator mode wherein the third beam path is operable using the second laser module at the second wavelength. 
   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the selectively switching is enabled by adaptable optomechanical coupling for at least part of all components and modules of the beam paths, and by electromechanical, electronic, and/or microprocessor control; and/or   either at least one of the laser modules is movably mounted, or part of all components and modules of the beam paths is mounted onto a movable platform.